Arsenal opened their first home game of the season with a commanding 5-0 victory at the Emirates, with Viktor Gyökeres scoring twice in his debut and Jurrien Timber also finding the net on his return from injury.
The Gunners’ celebrations were slightly tempered by injuries to captain Martin Ødegaard and winger Bukayo Saka, but before the game Eberechi Eze was officially confirmed to have snubbed Tottenham to join the Gunners.
The dominant win highlighted Arsenal’s attacking depth, with young talents making an impact and Gyökeres got off the mark in red. However, after the game, Mikel Arteta turned his attentions to the injuries and the new signing.
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He revealed after the game: "Martin looks like a shoulder issue so we will have to scan tomorrow and understand how bad it is.
"And Bukayo had to come off after sprinting and when he was wrestling with the defender he felt something in his hamstring I think. It is the other side [to the previous injury] but it is still not good."
Martin Odegaard left the field in the first half with a shoulder injury, with Bukayo Saka falling to the floor in the second half with a hamstring injury.
While the injuries are a setback for the manager, Arteta was still happy with the depth in his squad.
Mikel Arteta had nothing but praise for his side after their win
|REUTERS
He continued: "We already lost Kai [Havertz] which is a big player for us and now Bukayo and Martin.
"That is why the squad has to be well-equipped. It is going to be a long season and we are going to need a lot of players in order to achieve what we want.”
The manager also revealed his confidence in securing Eze’s transfer, dismissing any doubts about the midfielder’s commitment to Arsenal.
"I was convinced yesterday that everything was going to be through but this is football and everything has to be done.
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Bukayo Saka was helped off with a hamstring injury
|REUTERS
"The medical, the paperwork, everything has to be finalised.
"In terms of how convinced the player was to come I had no doubt. At the start of the week, I was not planning for that [Eze going to Spurs]."
He also expressed excitement over what Eze can add to his side: "You could feel it in the last 24 hours that something was happening and our supporters and the way they reacted and what he brought immediately is something special.
"We signed a player with an enormous talent and a massive impact in this league and on top of that a player that has massive feelings for this football club – he has made it very clear, his family have made it very clear, you can sense that."
Eberechi Eze was revealed before the game
|REUTERS
Arteta also heaped praise on another of his summer signing Gyokeres: "Viktor is so powerful and determined in his actions and you see that when he has the space he can attack people, very happy for Viktor scoring his first two goals," he told Sky Sports.
Arsenal will now prepare to face Premier League champions Liverpool away at Anfield in what is sure to be one of the biggest games of the season.
With Saka and Odegaard questionable, it may be the first time we see Eze at his new club to fill in for their injured stars.